Being able to tell when your dog or puppy is sick is something we all wish we could do. We can hardly tell with these loyal creatures always wagging their tails and showing adorable expressions no matter how much discomfort they may be going through. Even with your regular vet visits and checkups, you might still wish there was another way you could tell when your puppy is in pain. Checking your dog regularly and examining their body and behaviors can be a good place to start. If you have a puppy and you’re trying to provide it with a healthy life and look out for any signs of sickness, you have come to the right place. Here is how you can tell if your dog is sick just by checking for visible signs and obvious behaviors in their routine.
CHECK YOUR PUPPY’S MOUTH
Start by checking their breath. Usually, an odorless breath indicates a healthy mouth. Your puppy needs dental care too in order to stay clear of dental diseases. Make sure their teeth are clean and that there’s no plaque or tartar covering them. While you’re at it, you might as well check their gums. Look for red or darker patches as those are the colors that indicate gum problems; your dog’s gums should normally be pink. Any growth or lumps may also be a sign of problems, so are sores or cuts that are noticed on the tongue. If you don’t notice any of that, your dog is likely healthy.
MAKE SURE THEY ARE NOT OVERWEIGHT
Just like humans, dogs are prone to all kinds of diseases that come with obesity. If your dog is overweight, they are prone to developing serious conditions such as diabetes, bone diseases, and heart diseases. You should aim to keep your pup on a healthy and balanced diet and make sure they are provided with the right supplements and dog vitamins that help them grow naturally. If you notice any weight drop or gain or if things get out of your control, it’s essential to visit the vet and check for any underlying health problems.
CHECK THEIR BOWEL MOVEMENTS
One of the most effective ways to check if your puppy is healthy to examine their urine and stool for signs of unwellness. A sick dog will have blood, mucus, diarrhea, or even worms in their feces or urine. Even the color matters in this situation, a healthy puppy’s urine should be either transparent yellow, slightly golden, or amber color. Any change in the color or texture of their waste can be a sign of illness, stress, or serious infections. Get your puppy checked at the vet as soon as you notice any changes in their toilet habits or in the color or shape of their urine and poop.
PAY ATTENTION TO YOUR DOG’S EATING HABITS
This is another obvious indication of your dog’s health. As long as they are eating normally, there’s no need for concern. However, if your dog goes for more than a day without either drinking or eating, there’s probably something wrong. You should know your dog’s eating habits so if you sense any changes, it’s time to visit the vet. Your puppy could be depressed or anxious, they could also be sick and require medical attention as soon as they start rejecting food or go for hours without drinking water.
BEHAVIORS AND ATTENTIVENESS
Dogs are naturally energetic and they tend to move more and show more curiosity toward the world when their owners or family members are around. Your dog is healthy as long as they are attentive to their surroundings and affectionate with you and others. A lazy dog that stays distant from its family members can be either sick, depressed, or anxious and in all cases, you will have to take them to the vet.
CHECK THEIR EARS
Checking your puppy’s ears should be a routine that you do regularly. Try to remove earwax before it builds up and causes any discomfort to your pup. Swelling inside of the ear or any bad odors are problems that need to be examined by a vet, however, you should never poke directly into your dog’s ears using anything except cotton wool to gently clean the wax-build up.
Looking after your pet and taking care of their health should be your priority as a pet owner. Dogs can sometimes hide symptoms or signs of sickness because of how energetic and joyful they are. Fortunately, as explained, there are many ways you can check your dog and make sure they are healthy and content. Most of the signs of trouble will appear in their eating habits, bowel movements, and way of behaving and playing.
